The economy, health care, transportation, foreign policy, the fishing industry and the Columbia River channel deepening project are some of the issues on the minds of the candidates for Oregon’s 1st Congressional District.

Three-time Democratic congressman David Wu is facing competition this year from Republican Goli Ameri, who won the three-way Republican primary with 48.2 percent of the votes. The district includes Clatsop, Columbia, Washington, Yamhill and parts of Multnomah counties.

The candidates came to Oregon from different corners of the world – Wu was born in Taiwan and immigrated to the United States with his family when he was 6 years old; Ameri was born in Iran and came to the United States to attend college when she was 17.

Both attended Stanford University as undergraduates; Wu attended medical school at Harvard University then earned a law degree from Yale University, whereas Ameri followed her undergraduate education with a doctorate in communications from Stanford.

Before becoming a member of Congress in 1999, Wu founded a law firm that dealt with the high-tech industry. Ameri started her own marketing research firm that consults for the high-tech industry.

While the candidates agree on some things, like the need for deepening the Columbia River and the need for better scientific data to help the fishing industry, their views diverge on many other issues. They differ on what they believe will best jump-start the economy, foreign policy issues and fiscal policies.

Echoing national politics, both candidates accuse their competitor of inconsistencies in their policies.

A third candidate, Dean Wolf of Aloha, representing the Constitution Party, is also on the ballot.

David WuDavid WuAge: 49

Address: 818 S.W. Third Ave., No. 1182, Portland

Occupation: U.S. Representative

Education: Law degree, Yale University; attended Harvard Medical School; bachelor of science, Stanford University

Length of time in District 1: 22 years

Affiliations: Member, New Democrat Coalition in the House of Representatives; past chairman, Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus

Prior public service: three terms as member of Congress; serves on the Education, Workforce and Science Committees in the House.

Key issues: Building a new Clatsop Community College; continuing with the Lewis and Clark Explorer train and supporting local air service; promoting a sustainable fishing industry; reforming No Child Left Behind education legislation; for Columbia River channel deepeningAstoria is experiencing a “renaissance,” according to Wu. “Looking towards the future, I know that we need to do more work to improve the economy of Clatsop County and Astoria,” he said. “But if you look at downtown Astoria, things haven’t looked this good in 20 years.”

He cited the restoration of the Liberty Theater as an example of where federal funds can be combined with private donations to get things done, and how improving one building can improve the businesses around it.

Wu said he is also proud of his achievements with other local projects, like the addition of three more Lewis and Clark-related sites to the Fort Clatsop National Memorial.

That will be a very important part, not only of commemorating the past, but of building an economic future,” Wu said.

He said he is also pleased with the progress of the East Mooring Basin repairs and construction, and said it appeared that the project could be finished this year. With both the mooring basin project and the Astoria/Warrenton sewer project, which was supported with federal money, he said that the improvements would help create and retain jobs and businesses.

He said he helped obtain $2 million for the Lewis and Clark Explorer train, and hopes that upgrades to the project continue so that it can travel at higher speeds, pick up more passengers, and stay viable.

To keep the fishing industry working at a sustainable level, he has supported the on-boat observer program to get better data to help make fishing regulations.

He said that one of his major goals is to build a new facility for Clatsop Community College.

“No component of the future is as important as building a new community college,” Wu said. “I know that the siting issue has been a very difficult one … I care much less about where it’s sited than that we build a new college.”

He said that the area also needs a scheduled commercial air service between the airport in Warrenton and Portland, and that he hopes that the Marine and Environment Research Training Station, the Job Corps, a new community college and other businesses will drum up enough support to keep it in business.

He said he recognizes that the Columbia River deepening project is not overwhelmingly popular in Clatsop County, but said “I think it is necessary for the long-term survival of our part of the Pacific Northwest.”

“I think that one of the biggest differences (with Ameri) is that I have been in Clatsop County on a very consistent basis,” Wu said. “There’s a proper sense in Clatsop County that the region doesn’t get the attention it deserves. I have worked very hard to be present, to listen, to work hard.”

Wu said he fought hard to extend unemployment benefits that would help many Oregonians, but that Ameri is a “complete free-market person.”

“She has not just ignored, she has opposed federal workplace benefits” like overtime pay and employment benefits, Wu said of Ameri. He also said that his opponent had once said she favored voucher programs to allow students to go to private schools, then backtracked from the position, and that she had on her Web site statements in favor of personal retirement accounts in her Social Security reform plan, but has since removed them.

“Whether it’s a popular issue or an unpopular issue, I’ve laid things out straight,” said Wu. “I tried to vote for the long-term interests of Oregon and our nation, and tried to come home and explain it.”

He voted for the No Child Left Behind legislation because it would support schools, but said the Bush administration underfunded the program by $10 billion. He has proposed legislation that would remove some of the “Washington-knows-best” legislation in the law and to give local schools more flexibility, he said.

Wu voted against authorizing the use of force in Iraq. “It was unwise to charge into Iraq, and we are now in a situation where we’re taking casualties,” he said. He added that the U.S needs to bring its troops home soon and focus its attention on al-Qaida and Afghanistan.

A recent article in The Oregonian reported that in 1976 Wu faced accusations of assault of a former girlfriend; he was not charged with any crimes. Wu released a statement earlier this week, which said in part: “Twenty-eight years ago, I had a 2-year romantic relationship with a fellow college student that ended with inexcusable behavior on my part. As a 21-year-old, I hurt someone I cared very much about. I take full responsibility for my actions and I am very sorry.”

Goli AmeriGoli AmeriAge: 48

Address: 13500 S.W. Pacific Highway, Tigard

Occupation: Founder and president, eTinium, a consulting and market research firm for the telecommunications industry

Education: Master’s degree, communications, Stanford University; bachelor’s degree, communications and French literature, Stanford University

Affiliations: Board member, National Education for Women’s Leadership Oregon, Hatfield School of Government, Portland State University; member, U.S. Sen. Gordon Smith’s finance committee; Oregon Steering Committee, Special Gifts Committee and Campaign for Undergraduate Education, Stanford Univeristy; past member, executive committee of the Oregon Republican Party; executive committee of the San Francisco Republican Party; past Oregon Delegate, National Republican Women’s Conference; past trustee/vice chairwoman for development, Catlin Gabel School; volunteer, Head Start

Length of time in District 1: 11 years

Prior public service: none

Key issues: Lower taxes to boost the economy and create jobs; less congressional spending; promoting Oregon’s products; for deepening of the Columbia River; improving transportation; decreasing government regulations of businesses and industries”These are really the three reasons why I decided to become a Republican: strong national defense, lower taxes, smaller government,” Ameri said recently. “I’m a big believer in all of these.”

Lower taxes help boost the economy, she said, adding that if elected she would vote to make the tax cuts, such as the elimination of the marriage penalty and the estate tax, permanent. She said that Wu voted against the national tax cuts in 2002, then voted for them two months before the election.

“I’m very respectful of people who have a certain belief, certainly there are constituencies that believe that lower taxes are not a good thing,” she said. “But if you believe in that, then 60 days before the election you change your mind, that’s a little different.”

Ameri’s campaign helped to defeat ballot Measure 30, the Oregon Legislature’s $1.1 billion tax increase.

She said she wants to spread the word about the opportunity for businesses to come to Oregon. “I’m a marketing person by background and by training, and for me one of the most important jobs (as a member of Congress) is to market your state,” she said. Outside of Oregon, “I don’t think they know and understand what kind of a hidden potential that Oregon has.”

Once here, however, industries in Oregon consistently struggle with three things, Ameri said: “over-taxation, over-regulation, over-litigation,” and she wants to make the state a friendlier place for businesses.

With regards to the fishing industry, she said that it is being hampered by the outdated scientific data that quotas are based on.

“The fishing industry, my God, I would say has been pretty much decimated out here, and I don’t think these government regulations are helping very much,” Ameri said. She said she would like to see a push for legislation to change the way the fishing industry is regulated, much like the Healthy Forests Initiative affected the timber industry.

“There seems to be a disconnect between what I would call the extreme environmental movement and what is actually factual science,” said Ameri. She cited the recent decision by a judge to prevent the Bonneville Power Administration from shutting off the spill over dams early, after environmentalists said it would hurt the salmon runs.

Ameri said she is against excessive government spending on “pork-barrel” projects, but said that she would support projects that would bring jobs to the area.

“The way I draw the line is, if I can bring something here that’s going to create jobs, you bet I’m going to run after it like there’s no tomorrow,” she said. However, she added that “If’ I’m against too much spending that means I’m against too much spending in my own district too.”

Transportation funds are very important to the area, she said, especially because Oregon is an isolated state. Ameri said she is in favor of having active air service from Clatsop County, and focusing on transportation projects outside of the Portland area.

Ameri said that there are some issues where she disagrees with the majority of Republicans: She is for the reimportation of prescription medicine, she is in favor of stem cell research, she is pro-choice, but believes there should be restrictions such as parental notification and a 24-hour waiting period and no late-term abortions or government funding.

Noting that both she and Wu were both born overseas, Ameri said that she faults the congressman for not doing more with the chance he has been given.

“Because you’re different, because you’re an immigrant, people want to give you opportunities to succeed,” Ameri said. “He could have really become a shining star, and on the way take Oregon with him, and I don’t think he’s done that.”